MANAWATU NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 220, 11 June 1921, Page 5

MANAWATU NOTES

From Our Own Correspondent Palmerston North, Juno 10. At a meeting of the Palmerston Hospital Board yesterday, Mr. J. K. Hornblow. of Foxton, assorted that many of the immigrants, more especially the women, coming to tho Dominion were veryunfit physically, and wore liable to become a burden on the State. It was essential that' the authorities should to more strict as to the admission to this country of people in such a condition. When the question of finance was under discussion nt yesterday s meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, letters were received from local bodies urging that in view of the ever-increas-ing and overwhelming levies imposed by the board on contributing bodies for maintenance, the board should exercise the greatest economy, consistent of course with efficiency, in its expenditure, as the burden on the ratepayers was becoming almost unbearable. Sir James At I'son (chairman) .said it was very probable that the new schedule, if put into operation by the Government, would make the position still worse for the counties. Ho repented the assertion which ho had made at previous meetings, that the bu increase in levies was no fault of the board Tho counties and boroughs, he admitted, werq being unfairly and nmdutv taxed, and a strong protest stonM to made to the Government through th" members of Parliament for the various districts, against the high taxation. I was the system of the Government that was cinising tho trouble. The ambulance motor-car of the I almerstou North Hospital Board ennm n> for fvmie very strong criticism at tho meeting of the board yesterday. Mr». L A. Abraham, a member of tho board, who had the misfortune to break a. leg and wns compelled to use the conveyance, described her'experiences of two journeys in it. On each occasion the rides were so rough that ' she taii>U‘.l from the pain caused by the jolting. She suggested that if the chairman doubted her word ho should be. taken for a run round the. block in the car, and she thought ho would be satisfied. Mr. Murdoch said that he had mentioned the matter previously. He also know of people suffering greatly from a journey in the car. It wns a relic of barbarism, and a disgraceful thing to run people about, the country in. Another member said that while a patient was being brought up from Shannon ths other day he was compelled do get out and help' to push tho car. The ventilation was also complained of as being quite inadequate. The chairman pointed out that the ambulance had been purchased on the recommendation of the Health Department. Eventually it was decided to endeavour to have the necessary improvements made. Some time ago a- proposal was made that a cenotaph should be erected in th* vicinity of Palmerston Nortlil as a. war memorial, and .this was adopted by Ihe Borough Council, but as nothing had been heard of the mutter for some considerable time the idea got abroad that the project had been dropped. However, it appears that it had only been hibernating, as a further meeting .was called last night to go into the question of raising the necessary funds It was then explained by the Mayor (Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P.) that 'it was proposed to erect tho cenotaph in the Anzac Park on the hil.' overlooking the Manawatu River, and in •uch a position that i-t would to visible from tho town and from most of. the surrounding country. It. was stated that a suitable cenotaph would cost about .£2OOO, and that authority hod been given for the Borough Council Io subsidise any money raisixl. ft was decided to obtain designs and quotations from Wellington for the work, and to endeavour to raise the. money req ’.it rid by subscription.